Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Wednesday that Pakistan is in danger of falling into terrorist hands because of failed government policies, and called on Pakistani citizens and expatriates to voice more concern.

"I think that we cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by continuing advances, now within hours of Islamabad, that are being made by a loosely confederated group of terrorists and others who are seeking the overthrow of the Pakistani state, a nuclear-armed state," Clinton said in an appearance before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

"I don't hear that kind of outrage and concern coming from enough people that would reverberate back within the highest echelons of the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan."

In her first congressional hearing since being confirmed, Clinton told the panel the chief goal of the Obama administration's strategy is to defeat al Qaeda and prevent it from returning to Afghanistan.

soundoff(One Response)

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

It is important that we get international support to fight the terrorists in northwestern Pakistan. That is the central haven where they are. We can not allow them to overthrow a nuclear armed state. If I were a betting person, that is their intention.